Quandary is an online simulation in ethical decision-making while building a new colony on the planet Braxos. Face decisions without right or wrong answers but that have implications on you and others in the colony. This activity was created for students ages 8-14. Login is optional to save scores or play as a guest. The game includes three different episodes with each containing different scenarios for decision-making. View information on the game, extension questions and more within the teachers and parents portions of the site. Find lesson plans, standards mapping (matched to Common Core ELA standards), and printable materials within the teachers section for classroom use. Don't miss the introduction videos explaining the site!

In the Classroom

Try this activity on your interactive whiteboard (or projector). Create a quick poll (with no membership required) using Updwn, reviewed here, to view students' choices of actions to take throughout the game. Challenge cooperative learning groups to create videos and share them on a site such as TeacherTube reviewed here to explain the decision-making process for different scenarios.

ESL Discussions is a resource of over 600 discussion questions. They could be used in ESL/ELL lessons, speaking practice, debate clubs, and as needed for any speaking activities. Categorized alphabetically, topics include everyday themes such as donuts as well as more controversial topics such as marijuana. Teachers working with K-12 students will want to select the questions rather than sending students to the site since there are also some very sensitive topics. Choose a topic to view two sets of questions to spark conversations: one for student A and another for student B. Choose the link to print questions in either Word or PDF. Although this site has a lot of advertisements, there are some very interesting topics to discuss/share.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Bookmark this site to use anytime you want to develop and promote discussion skills in your classroom. After students have completed their discussion questions, have them present their findings to the class then create a quick poll (with no membership required) using using Updwn, reviewed here. Share with ESL/ELL and Special Education teachers as a resource for promoting discussion and speaking skills with their students. Use this site for teacher-selected topics in debate club, speech class, and more. Some of the topics could even make good blog prompts.

Enter the engaging virtual world of Whyville filled with math, science, art, and literature activities. Create an avatar and join in constructive educational activities that promote socially responsible behavior. There are many activities to explore, and you can chat with other users. The Zero Gravity Chamber features angles and the principle of Newton's 3rd Law. In the Rocket Design Lab simulate rockets to test parameters such as nozzle size and pay load. The Engine Lab has 3 games that teach about electric charges and ion engines. Citizens must be aware of infectious illnesses and plagues that infect the citizens of Whyville. Join in the hot air balloon race to analyze vector fields to navigate hot air balloons. Go on an art treasure hunt around the world. At the dance studio design and choreograph your own dances. Visit the beach, the climate center, take a swim, or meet your friends at the playground or waterfall. Simulations change every time you enter Whyville. Earn clams, a salary, manage a bank account, get a pet, and read the daily news. Log-in (with email) is required to fully participate in this site. However, most of the site is accessible without registration. Don't miss this award winning website!

In the Classroom

In the classroom, join as a teacher and manage each students account. Reinforce safe online behavior as your students explore opportunities for learning.The chat feature is a perfect opportunity practice safe interactions. Demonstrate this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Use as a reward in your classroom or as a way to extend and enrich concepts learned in math and science. Offer Whyville as a safe enrichment tool for students to use at home. Encourage all students to join in the educational activities. Design a simplified version of this site for younger children with your class. Use one of the many animation tools available at the TeachersFirst Edge.

Use this free classroom management tool to easily track the behavior of your class. Click on the student and quickly assign a positive or negative behavior point. Enter and track other data such as reading levels. You can also make your own customized data set. Create multiple classes and even share data with colleagues (even among different accounts). The data is encrypted for security. Use the data on your school computer or on a majority of web enabled devices such as smartphones and iPads. Please note: Flash is required only to view the introductory video.

In the Classroom

Use this tool to "track" your students. Set up this site (and share with students) the first week of school to get started on the right foot! Share the data with parents and with students. Meet one on one to go over their current "track." Add pictures to the charts. Use collected information to help in arranging the students within your class. Use for easy ability or heterogeneous grouping. Track participation, modeling and reward good behaviors, or collect any other data that helps in evaluating and teaching students. If your students have a behaviour plan, be sure to share results with the case manager on their IEP.

Teach your students about cybersafety using engaging interactives, resources for both parents and teachers, video "shorts," and much more! Training Missions includes Email (Spam), Communication (Personal Information, Website Dangers, and Cyber bullying. There is also an area called "Fun Stuff." While the activities may be "fun," but are also highly educational. Learn about topics such as: saving the planet/environment, online safety, researching candidates and making an informed choice, testing your netiquette, growing a positive online reputation, plus many other activities (such as seasonal interactives.) Register a group or classroom using a group code. Download and install the activity according to instructions. In addition to the games, download teacher's companions that include classroom activities to accompany each of the activities.

In the Classroom

Create a class account and allow students to explore the site and use the interactives throughout the year. Create a link to games or videos for students to access at home. Challenge students to create a talking avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted to be reproduced). The avatars can be used to explain one important step in cyber safety. Use a site such as Blabberize (reviewed here). Share this site with parents as an excellent resource to use at home. Why not have a cybersafety month throughout your school -- maybe early in the school year-- and encourage all parents to join in as part of a PTA/PTO event?

The U.S. Department of State designed this interactive game to help ESL/ELL learners to learn American English. However, many non-ESL/ELL students could greatly benefit (and enjoy) this highly interactive experience and look at U.S. culture. Download Unity Player to begin. Registration is free, but does require an email address. Begin your mission with Trace, a teen back in time from the year 2045. Help Trace return to his regular time by completing several challenges. Trace must follow directions (called objectives) on each screen. He travels to 8 separate locations around the U.S. Learn about entrepreneurship, community activism, empowering women, science and innovation, environmental conservation, and conflict resolution. Travel to Kansas, New Orleans, the Grand Canyon, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Complete 28 practice activities. You will also find 4 multi-player practice challenges, 7 graphic novels for extension activities, and an American English dictionary integration activity. The game is so involved, that you will not even realize that you are also learning English.

In the Classroom

This site offers a window on American culture that you can use in comparing cultures. It is a great way to engage ESL/ELL teens as they practice English skills. Since the State Department created it, an AP Civics or Government class might even want to critique or discuss its portrayal of U.S. culture. Have ESL/ELL students work on individual laptops and explore this site alone or with a partner. Provide this link for students to access both in and out of the classroom. Challenge your students to collaboratively write the dialogue for an additional visit Trace might make to a community near you using Google Docs/Drive reviewed here. Your more technologically savvy students may like to create another version of a Trace visit to go along with the dialog! In a world language class, have students work collaboratively to create a visit to a cultural site using this game as a model.

Voices of Youth is UNICEF's online home for young people to know more, learn more, and do more about our world. Read articles, view videos, and share thoughts and opinions with others around the world on global topics. Topics include poverty, education, human rights, health issues, and much more. Choose from links on the home page to find information on specific topics. Scroll through the page to read the latest posts. Click on tags at the bottom of each article to find related articles. Easily view the site in French or Spanish using links provided at the top of each page. Create your own posts or add comments after registration on the site -- with email or using a Facebook or Twitter account. Some of the videos are hosted on YouTube. If your school blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable. You could always view the videos at home and bring them to class "on a stick" to share. Use a tool such as KeepVid reviewed here to download the videos from YouTube.

In the Classroom

This site is an excellent resource to bookmark and use throughout the year when discussing current events, specific countries or geographic areas, or for non-fiction reading. Find informational texts that matter to your students. Spark informational writing, as well. Allow students to browse the site to find interesting articles. Have students create magazine covers of information found on this site using Magazine Cover Maker reviewed here. Challenge students to create a newspaper article using articles found on this site as a model using the Newspaper Clipping Generator. World language teachers will find this useful when viewing articles in French or Spanish to practice translation skills.

Groups in Action shares 13 video vignettes to help understand and address problems faced during collaborative projects. Topics address common problems: someone being constantly late, someone dominating conversations, disinterest in projects, and more. The videos also offer solutions to the common problems. Since collaboration is a much-touted job skill for the 21st century, this resource can help anyone improve their skills-- even adults!

In the Classroom

Use this site as a resource when beginning group projects. Most videos are under 3 minutes (even around one minute). It would be feasible to show nearly all videos prior to starting group projects. Show videos on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to display suggested approaches to problems within groups. Use throughout projects as needed to address specific problems that have arisen with groups in your classroom. Make the link available for students to access as needed when frustrations crop up. Counselors and support teachers may also want to use these videos to help students improve interpersonal "smarts" for group work.

Join four year old Daniel Tiger, Mom Tiger, Dad Tiger, and Tigey in games, videos, and printables. Topics explore socio-emotional themes: sadness, anger, and bedtime anxieties. There are also activities about doctor visits, music, exploring around the house, riding the trolley through the neighborhood and more. The collection of videos has many different segments from the television series. Don't miss the printables.

In the Classroom

Use this at a center, or a way to start conversations about feelings or situations. Share the interactives or videos on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Use the printables for students to create their own adventures for Daniel Tiger. Have your class create an adventure for Daniel Tiger. Put the stories into a class book. Take this idea to a new level, and create your own "neighborhood" in your class. Each student can add their own experiences with podcasts, videos, or writing. Have students create podcasts using a site such as Spreaker (reviewed here).

Learn to think like a historian. See how we know about the past by using this interactive poster. All you have to do is hover your mouse over one of the quadrants and click. More information, activities, and links will appear. Each of the quadrants also has additional teaching resources. On the far left column you will find links to "What Is Historical Thinking?" a video, "What are Primary Sources?" and "What are Secondary Sources?"

In the Classroom

Use your projector or interactive whiteboard and teach your students how to think like a historian. There are some interesting links here for you and your students to investigate. For instance, there are links for exploring the modern civil rights movement, primary sources to look at diary entries from other time periods, examining lithographs, using and reading multiple perspectives, and several more. You may want to go through each quadrant with the entire class, or you might want to assign groups to become "specialists" in a quadrant and have them present it to your class. Challenge the groups to create presentations using Prezi (reviewed here).

Find videos related to social education, health, citizenship, religions, the environment, crime, and countless eclectic topics at this UK-based site. Though some are controversial, this is a great set of resources for the introduction of difficult subjects to a class. Events that coordinate with videos are listed along the right side of the site. Choose from subjects along the top including Body and Health, Crime, Culture, and more. Many of the videos deal with worldwide issues from a non-U.S. point of view, offering a different perspective. Be sure to preview videos before you share. Some do deal with rather controversial topics. If necessary, check with your administration about the appropriate use of these videos before sharing withe the class OR sharing the link on your class website.

In the Classroom

Share specific videos on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Use a video to introduce a debate topic or as a prompt for persuasive writing. As a media literacy exercise, ask students to find another video (perhaps on YouTube) that presents an opposing viewpoint on the same topic as one here. Then challenge cooperative learning groups to create their own videos on this or another controversial topic being discussed in class. Share the videos using a tool such as TeacherTube reviewed here.

PictureSET is a collection of downloadable visuals to support receptive and expressive communication in the classroom, at home, and in the community. Choose from the main category titles: Young Adult, School, Community, Home, and others to access resources. Available resources include songs, posters, booklets, and stories. Print and save files using links included. Many of the collections were designed to meet specific needs such as articulation.

In the Classroom

Print posters from the site for classroom use for procedures such as bathroom routines, cleanup, teaching personal hygiene, etc. This is an excellent site to use with learning support, or even life skills students. Many parts of this site would be ideal to use in the ESL/ELL classroom. Special ed teachers looking for free communications materials will love the teacher-made options available here. You can aso share materials you create. World language teachers can use the images to create vocabulary challenges for students to narrate.

The Brown Bookcase features literature for young readers written by and featuring people of color. View archives going back to 2007 to find book reviews, author's chats, and some videos that accompany books featured on the site. A flagship feature of the site is the 28 Days Later portion. Each day during Black History Month features a different author. It is a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by African Americans to help parents, teachers, librarians and booksellers recommend good reads. Archives are available beginning with the 2008 campaign.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Bookmark this site for use throughout the year, not just during Black History Month. Create a link on classroom computers for students to explore and find books for reading. Share this link on your class website or blog for students to use at home. Showcase books found on this site for classroom read alouds. Librarians will find this site helpful for creating displays in their library or for presentations in classrooms. Have students create commercials for books found on this site using a tool like Powtoon, reviewed here, or Stupeflix, reviewed here, and share them using a tool such as SchoolTube, reviewed here.

Are you looking for materials portraying strong females? If so, this site is a great resource to find books, movies, toys, and music that portray strong, confident, female characters. Choose from the "best of" lists to find top Asian Pacific or Latino mighty girls among other specific categories. Filter books by categories such as age, award winners, social issues, and language. Many picture books are also featured, making this a site even the youngest students can use. Visit the Character Collection link to learn about various famous females and books available about each character. Be aware: much of this site features items for sale. You may want to use this site solely for finding topic ideas, strong/famous women for research and sharing, and literature to locate in your local library.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Choose from books included on this site for classroom use portraying strong female role models. Share with parents through your website for use at home when choosing books, movies, and toys. After reading two books, compare characters using an online tool such as the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here

In the Classroom

Bookmark and use this site throughout the year for downloads and classroom ideas. Explore the site for ideas that can be modified and used in your classroom. This site is ideal for a new teacher, substitute, or seasoned professional.

Web of Stories is a very interesting collection of videos shared by some of the greatest scientists along with everyday people. It began as an archive of stories from scientists but expanded beyond science and into the realm of common life stories. Choices are from most popular stories, editor's choice, or featured films on the home page. The Lives portion of the site contains stories of people who have influenced the world: from Nobel Laureates to Oscar-winning cinematographers and more. Choose channels to find specific subjects ranging from Changing Faces (Living with Disfigurement), Sports, Technology, Family History and many more. You can upload your own videos using your computer's camcorder or with a prerecorded video. Register to add stories, recommend or comment on videos. Registration is not necessary to view videos. Caution: at the time of this review, a few videos dealt with topics appropriate for adults or older high school students, so please be sure to preview anything you wish to share. If you plan to allow students to explore on their own (which we don't recommend), be sure to closely monitor student use.

In the Classroom

Choose from videos on the site to watch on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) for any range of subjects. Make science more real by sharing these stories. Embed videos using the code on the site onto your class website or blog for students to view at home. Have students record responses using an online tool such as the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here) to create a visual comparison of two different videos on any given topic. Share videos with students to view when exploring career options.

Urgent Evoke is an online video game designed to help individuals across the world develop innovative, creative solutions to the globe's most pressing social problems. It also helps to develop ten much-needed skills: collaboration, courage, creativity, entrepreneurship, local insight, knowledge sharing, resourcefulness, spark/example setting, sustainability, and vision. Unlike most typical online video games, accepting the mission on Urgent Evoke does not bring players to a new, simulated world within which to complete that mission. Rather, players act on the mission within their own communities and document efforts with video, photos, or a blog post. Be sure to watch the "How to Play" videos to get a full overview of the concept and how to play games.

In the Classroom

Use Urgent Evoke to stimulate innovation and creativity among students. Have students work in teams or individually to move through the ten-week game and complete missions. Provide context for the game and supplement with real-life encounters with activists, business people, and creative thinkers who are working to address these same problems in their own lives. Students don't have to play the whole game, choose missions that are appropriate to your classroom learning goals to present as problem solving and creative thinking activities. Teachers of gifted could use this game as a basis for a semester of intense projects.

How do you know when you're happy? What's one bad habit that makes you miserable? Find open-ended questions on Thought Questions daily. A gorgeous photograph complements each question. The site provides a space for you to answer these questions online or not. Maximize the benefits of self-reflection by taking the time to think! Visit this site daily, weekly, or monthly. There are over 900 questions and photos to contemplate, and they post a new one daily. There are advertisements between pictures, but their arrangement is such that they are not visible on the screen unless you are scrolling through the pictures. The public is able to answer the questions on the site, so you may want to only use this on an adult's computer.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

This is the perfect site to start your students' day or end your day with them. Use these questions as writing prompts or quick writes. You may want to ask students to choose their favorite and form small groups to discuss their answers. Post some of the same questions on bulletin boards. Discussing or debating these questions would be a powerful community builder at the beginning of the year or when forming new small groups. To avoid the advertising, have your question on the screen before projecting it on your screen or whiteboard. IF your class includes gifted students, they may react well to such thought-provokers. Encourage them to collect favorite prompts and responses in a writing journal or "idea bin" to use at times when they are ahead of the class or need extra writing challenges.

This CurriConnects list offers books for student independent reading about leaders. This list of leaders includes a wide sampling from politics to literature and the arts to entertainment. CurriConnects thematic book lists include ISBN numbers for ordering or searching, interest grade levels, ESL/ELL levels and Lexiles '® to match student independent reading levels to challenge, not frustrate. Don't miss other CurriConnects themes being added regularly. If your school or public library does not have the books, try interlibrary loan!

In the Classroom

Use this list as you study any topic that features leaders: the founding fathers, famous scientists, and much more. Encourage students to read about leaders in diverse fields - including the one you are studying - to compare and discuss what makes someone a successful leader and why people rise to the top among their peers across time, place, and circumstance. You could also form an afterschool book club around this list or use the nonfiction listings as practice with informational texts.

The FBI - SOS (Safe Online Surfing) Challenge offers activities aimed at learning about cyber safety. The site features six grade-specific "islands" for students in grades 3-8. Activities highlight various aspects of cyber security through educational games, videos, and other interactive features. Each island has either seven or eight interactive areas to explore--with a specific cyber safety lesson. Islands also have central characters and visual themes. For example, fourth grade features Ice Island, complete with falling snow and penguins. There is also a testing component to complete upon teacher sign-up of classes and completion of all grade level activities. Free sign up isn't required to use the online activities but is necessary to take the final exam as the site requires an access key.

In the Classroom

Use this full site as a free mini-curriculum on cyber-safety, possibly using it in all grades at your school. Enroll your class and assign students to complete the activities and exams for homework. Share the SOS on your class website for parents and students to access at home. Display the site on your interactive whiteboard (or projector) and complete activities together as a class. Share with other teachers who are teaching units on online safety. Have students create an online or printed simple comic with one or two characters with Comic Creator, reviewed here, or create a comic strip using Write Comics, reviewed here, to show what they've learned about cyber-safey.